Lovely Equation

Algebra Level 4

If sum of all the values of x x satisfying 4 { x } = x + x \Large 4\{x\}=x+\left\lfloor x \right\rfloor is m n \dfrac{m}{n} . Find ( m + n ) \large (m+n)

Details

  • { x } \big\{x\} is fractional part function.

  • x \left\lfloor x \right\rfloor is greatest integer function or floor function


The answer is 8.

This section requires Javascript.
You are seeing this because something didn't load right. We suggest you, (a) try refreshing the page, (b) enabling javascript if it is disabled on your browser and, finally, (c) loading the non-javascript version of this page . We're sorry about the hassle.

4 solutions

x = x + [ x ] x={x}+[x]

Thus, the equation becomes 3 { x } = 2 [ x ] 3\{x\}=2[x]

Now, 0 3 { x } < 3 0 2 [ x ] < 3 0 [ x ] < 1.5 0\leq3\{x\}<3\Rightarrow 0\leq2[x]<3\Rightarrow 0\leq[x]<1.5

Since [ x ] [x] is an integer, it can take up values 0 , 1 0,1

Plugging into the equation, we get x = 0 , 5 3 x=0,\frac{5}{3}

Therefore, m + n = 5 + 3 = 8 m+n=5+3=\boxed{8}

Kartik Sharma
Nov 3, 2014

x = x [ x ] {x} = x - [x]

4 ( x [ x ] ) = x + [ x ] 4(x -[x]) = x + [x]

4 x 4 [ x ] = x + [ x ] 4x - 4[x] = x + [x]

3 x = 5 [ x ] 3x = 5[x]

x [ x ] = 5 3 \frac{x}{[x]} = \frac{5}{3}

Now, [x] will always be an integer, so it has to be equal to 1 or 5y

Now, for [ x ] = 1 , x = 5 3 [x] =1, x= \frac{5}{3}

For [ x ] = 5 y , x = 25 y 3 [x] = 5y, x = \frac{25y}{3} . But this is never possible, as we can easily see.

If x = 5 3 x = \frac{-5}{3} , then [ x ] = 2 1 [x] = -2 \not = -1 .

Siddhartha Srivastava - 6 years, 7 months ago

Log in to reply

OH yes! Thanks!

Kartik Sharma - 6 years, 7 months ago

The answer is correct. It is unclear how you arrived at the conclusion in line7.

Nanayaranaraknas Vahdam - 6 years, 7 months ago

Log in to reply

Yes okay fine. I have changed it.

Kartik Sharma - 6 years, 7 months ago
Rajen Kapur
Nov 3, 2014

Let x = I + f, where 0 < f < 1. Putting in the given equation we get 3f = 2I. Plugging integer values to I only I = 1 gives a valid f = 2/3. So the only x = 1 + (2/3) = 5/3.

Rishi Hazra
Nov 2, 2014

write the equation as

=> 5 {x} = 2 x

plot the graphs of y=2*x and y=5 * {x}

we find out form the graphs that y=2* x cuts the graph y= 5* {x} at two points;

one being (0,0) and the other being somewhere between x=1 and x=2.

Thus we are now confirmed about two solutions.

To determine the 2nd solution; we write the equation as

=> 3/2 * {x} = [x];

as the 2nd solution lies between x=1 and x=2; [x] has to be equal to 1

therefore {x}=2/3;

thus x= [x] + {x} = 1+ 2/3 = 5/3 =m/n......................[the other solution being 0]

hence m+n=8

0 pending reports

×

Problem Loading...

Note Loading...

Set Loading...